France and French Switzerland

France and French-speaking Switzerland offer some of the most fabulous tourism experiences in Europe. France has great culture, superb cuisine, unbeatable history and all those stylish chateaux. The western half of Switzerland has brilliant skiing and smart cities like Geneva and Lausanne. CitySounds.Travel knows almost every corner of France intimately.

Hear how the Romans built the Pont du Gard to bring water to Nimes …

Hear all about Flavigny – the Burgundy village where they filmed ‘Chocolat’ …

Listen to our France Travel Guide to Marseille – a chef explains how to cook the great fish soup – Bouillabaisse …

This guide has new material and has been re-edited for 2016 with extra content added. Paris is truly an elegant and romantic city with world-class attractions. The iconic Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Orsay Museum, the old Opera…

This second part of three Paris guides is full of sparkling interviews and insights. It has equally compelling places to visit like the Chateau de Chaillot on high ground opposite the Eiffel Tower – then we look at the building…

Part three of our tour of Paris takes us to the Catacombs where skeletons were moved and reburied underground as Haussmann was rebuilding the elegant centre of Paris we see all around us today. They emptied medieval graveyards and had…

Sunday afternoon in the French-style bullring ... no blood; fine Provencal cuisine; Excellent local lamb and fish; history from Roman era onwards. Arles amphitheatre Built by Julius Caesar; people lived in the Roman arena in medieval times; Vincent van Gogh…

Bayeux - home to the eleventh-century tapestry recording the events running up to the Norman invasion of Saxon England - has much more of interest for tourists as well. There's the cathedral and Europe's first ring road - cleared by…

Beziers is one of the most attractive and ancient cities in the south west of France. The historic centre sits on a bluff towering above the River Orb, which is itself crossed by France’s oldest working canal – the Canal…

Beziers is one of the most attractive and ancient cities in the south west of France. The historic centre sits on a bluff towering above the River Orb, which is itself crossed by France’s oldest working canal – the Canal…

Caen is the cradle of the Norman invasion of England in 1066. It was William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy's base. It's castle still dominates the city but there's a lot more on offer - the two Abbeys William built…

Calais is one of those European port cities which is so easy to tear straight through as we drive to a ferry or away on our holidays. But Calais has a long history at the centre of battles between France…

Calais is one of those European port cities which is so easy to tear straight through as we drive to a ferry or away on our holidays. But Calais has a long history at the centre of battles between France…

Drouin are the aristocrats of Calvados - the traditional apple brandy of Normandy. They were distilling for twenty years - to age their product properly - befiore they sold a single bottle. You can tour and taste at their distillery…

This is a two-part guide taking the upscale Belle Epoque canal barge operated by European Waterways ( a British tour operator trading from www.gobarging.com ) for six days through rural Burgundy. It is a joy of a trip with extremely…

This is a two-part guide taking the upscale Belle Epoque canal barge operated by European Waterways ( a British tour operator trading from www.gobarging.com ) for six days through rural Burgundy. It is a joy of a trip with extremely…

Cognac the home of the world’s finest brandy – Cognac is defined by a small geographical region. Tour of Courvoiser Cognac house. Cognac town is very historic – has a wonderful indoor market and some attractive parks. What is Pineau…

It's now more than sixty years - indeed fast approaching seventy years since British, Canadian and American forces landed in Normandy to try and end the tyranny of Nazi Germany across Europe. In this guide you'll visit the main D-Day…

Dijon is a gloriously civilised and arty city, in east central France, which in its heyday as the capital of historic Burgundy was more powerful than Paris. The Dukes of Burgundy controlled lands not only in eastern France but on…

Dijon is a gloriously civilised and arty city. Gustave Eiffel - yes the Tower man - he came from here. And there are quirky food connections too... Dijon mustard is known globally... you can buy it draught from the Maille shop,…

This is one of the truly beautiful areas of Europe physically and with a rich and very visible heritage of history and fine cuisine. Tim and Liz are based around Sarlat and La Roque Gageac and find out all about…

This is a UNESCO world heritage site. The buildings are historic - this was the first working iron factory in Europe - but it is also an exquisite monastic complex. Just visit it ! This is a small part of…

Gryon is a pretty little village sitting on a high balcony above the Rhone Valley in western Switzerland. Its summer gondola service takes you to the high alpine delights of Les Chaux and Tavayanne - old-style hamlets with places to…

Guerande is a tiny, medieval walled city just north of the mouth of the River Loire in southern Brittany. It has stacks of its own character and history but is bordered by huge salt marshes which make one of France's…

Guerande is a tiny, medieval walled city just north of the mouth of the River Loire in southern Brittany. It has stacks of its own character and history but is bordered by huge saltmarshes which make one of France's top…

Honfleur is probably the most attractive coastal town in France. The Vieux Bassin has been featured in hundreds of paintings and photoshoots. The whole town is worth exploring - and it's also home to a fine art gallery where you…

Fresh conent added for 2015. Honfleur is probably the most attractive coastal town in France. The Vieux Bassin has been featured in hundreds of paintings and photoshoots. The whole town is worth exploring - and it's also home to a…

This place officially called La Coupole or the dome is just outside St Omer in northern France - just off the A26 from Calais south. It's simply frightening to look at the vast concrete dome built into the side of…

Historic and attractive, lively port of La Rochelle. Good quality shopping in the old, arcaded town. History mixes with modern-day yachting and boating activity. Port area has a wide range of tourist standard, but excellent, characterful restaurants. Cruising out to…

Le Don de Fel is a fabulous phenomenon. It's architecturally unusual - huge, terra cotta coloured steel drums on a south of France mountain top... but also has brilliant ceramics displayed, made and sold within. Well worth a visit if…

This guide visits in detail the ultimate classic Loire chateau at Chenonceaux and then moves on to Cheverny and includes an interview with the Marquis who owns Cheverny. These are two of the classic Loire chateaux but Chambord and others…

In this programme you’ll be travelling around Orleans ( south west of Paris and on France’s greatest river – the Loire – and on westwards towards the Atlantic. Orleans is where Joan of Arc led her successful campaign against the…

This is a fabulously beautiful area of France - a little south and east of the Dordogne - but less well known. But it deserves a much greater reputation. It's a wonderful blend of high, but very verdant plateau country…

This is a fabulously beautiful area of France - a little south and east of the Dordogne - but less well known. But it deserves a much greater reputation. It's a wonderful blend of high, but very verdant plateau country…

Nantes is one of Europe's most creative and arty cities. It has re-created itself after the loss of its naval maritime role. It has history as the capital of medieval Brittany with a mighty castle, fine and historic cathedral -…

Nantes is one of Europe's most creative and arty cities. It has re-created itself after the loss of its naval maritime role. It has history as the capital of medieval Brittany with a mighty castle, fine and historic cathedral -…

Nimes is a gracious, elegant and historic city developed by the Romans and still a real gem for a break or as the base for travelling more widely. You can't miss the Roman Arena - the best preserved in Europe…

St Malo's pleasures and activities are obvious and many and covered in the main guides on this France page ... This is a new culinary walking tour around St Malo taking-in four really interesting food shops - spices, butter and…

St Malo is one of the most attractive walled cities in France. It stands on a rocky coast in Brittany known for its oysters and shellfish. The town is powerfully built of grey granite and is full of restaurants, fine…

St Malo is one of the most attractive walled cities in France. It stands on a rocky coast in Brittany known for its oysters and shellfish. The town is powerfully built of grey granite and is full of restaurants, fine…

This is a marvellous day trip up from Montreux on Lake Geneva and into the Alpine uplands around the extremely picturesque village of Gruyere. Stop at a cheese-making dairy, visit the castle of Gruyere and the amazing HR Giger museum…

Bargemon is a delightfully attractive little hill town in the peaceful countryside behind the glitzy Cote d'Azur. IUt has a clutch of restaurants, a couple of art galleries and interesting food and wine producers in the hills around. It's also…

Villars sur Ollon, Les Diablerets, Switzerland in summer. Walking in alpine pastures with those cowbells still tinkling in the 21st century... fabulous views and meals in mountain restaurants... golf on offer... visit a dairy at breakfast time to see Gruyere cheese…